Sanken secures Jaffna cancer hospital project

The Ministry of Health, Colours of Courage Trust has awarded the contract to build the cancer ward at the Tellipalai Hospital to Sanken Construction (Pvt) Ltd.

Minister of Health Maithripala Sirisena receives a replica of a cheque for Rs 100 million from Colours of Courage Trust Chairman, Nathan Shivagananathan after the signing of a MoU between the Health Ministry and the Colours of Courage Trust. Rs 180 million will be spent on the project by the Trust. Pic: Ranjith Asanka

The project is scheduled to be completed within 12-15 months and it will improve healthcare services in the North which has been lagging behind due to terrorism.

Under phase-I of the project construction of radiation treatment wards for male and female patients with 60 beds will be completed. Under phase-II a paediatric high dependency unit at the Jaffna teaching hospital will be constructed.

Phase-III of the project is a treatment centre funded by the government. With the completion of this project it will be a regional centre for the treatment of cancer patients in the Northern province.

During the past year, the Colours of Courage Trust has been raising funds to reach the target of $ 2 m. Todate it has raised over Rs. 180 m in cash and equipment worth Rs. 30 m for the construction.

The Colours of Courage Trust has been working with the Ministry of Health and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in March this year that paved the way to commence construction work.

Thereafter tenders were called and five reputed construction contractors submitted tenders. The tenders were evaluated by an independent consultant after which the Colours of Courage Trust decided to award the contract to Sanken.

This was approved by the Ministry of Health.

The decision to award the contract to Sanken was based on their professional service, compliance, projects done including hospital projects undertaken.

A key factor in deciding to award the contract to Sanken was due to their presence in the North which would contribute towards ensuring that the project is completed on schedule.

GW